Theresa May faces ANOTHER Brexit customs union showdown with rebel MPs NEXT WEEK

THERESA May faces another Commons showdown next week with rebel MPs over Britain’s membership of a customs union after Brexit, following yesterday’s damaging defeat in the Lords over the Government’s legislation.

In the upper chamber yesterday, an alliance of opposition peers, crossbenchers and Tory rebels came together to pass an amendment seeking to retain the option of a customs union with the EU after Brexit.

The Government is already worried it may not have the numbers to actually reverse the vote when the EU (Withdrawal) Bill returns to the Commons next month.

And a new challenge is now being mounted by the Commons Liaison Committee, an influential group made up of chairmen of various powerful select committees.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper and disgruntled Tory Nicky Morgan have drafted a motion that urges Theresa May to include an “effective customs union” in her Brexit negotiations.

The motion calls on the Government "to include as an objective in negotiations on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union the establishment of an effective customs union between the two territories.”

It also stresses the importance of having no hard Irish border - something many people think can only be achieved by membership of a customs union.

Ms Morgan and Ms Cooper said in a statement: “We both believe the case for a customs union is overwhelming - for the sake of British manufacturing, international trade, smooth borders and Northern Ireland peace.

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Theresa May is facing a new Commons defeat

"If Parliament stays silent until after the deal is done, that is just a recipe for conflict and regret later on.

"Far better for us to debate this properly now and let parliamentarians express their view before it is too late."

There will be a vote in the Commons on the motion next Thursday, ramping up pressure on the embattled PM.

Ministers argue that if the UK remains in a customs union with the EU after Brexit, it will be unable to strike its own free trade agreements with countries around the world.

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Theresa May is under renewed pressure over Brexit

Environment Secretary Michael Gove admitted today the Government would struggle when Brexit legislation returns to the Commons.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “It is the case that there are lots of potential future votes - given the arithmetic in the House of Commons, given the fact that we don't have a majority - which are always going to rely on the persuasive powers of ministers to get colleagues to support the Government.”

But he said: "I think the case of being outside the customs union, being able to support our own free trade deals, is a compelling and persuasive one.

“I know that when that case is put to the House of Commons it will rally Conservative MPs and others behind it."

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Nicky Morgan is one of the Tory rebels

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Yvette Cooper is leading the charge

Downing Street said ministers were "disappointed" at the result of the Lords vote and they would review the position when the Bill returns to the Commons.

A spokesman for Number 10 said: "The fundamental purpose of the Bill was to prepare our statute book for exit day.

“It is not about the terms of our exit.

"We will review the decision that was taken when the Bill returns to the Commons to ensure that we deliver a workable piece of legislation."